5 Things You May Not Know About Egg Donation

Surrogacy with Egg Donation is a method of assisted reproduction becoming increasingly popular for those experiencing infertility. According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, there have been about 10,000 fresh egg donation cycles per year for the last decade.

So what is egg donation, and who does it help? Simply put, it is an assisted conception option where one woman donates her eggs to a couple (or individual) to help them conceive through in vitro fertilization (IVF). And while we have bountiful information about the egg donation process on our website, we wanted the focus of this post to be about things egg donor applicants and intended parents may not know.

1. Not just anyone can donate their eggs.

Prospective egg donors apply to Surrogate Solution by completing an online application that consists of questions regarding their:

• Physical profile
• Biographical information
• Health and family history
• Mental health history
• Motivations for becoming an egg donor
• Education and career path

Applicants must meet our strict egg donor requirements to move forward. Our staff reviews egg donor applications according to current medical and social requirements, which are established by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and IVF clinics. This ensures that the intended parents (IPs) are presented with a high-quality donor who is physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared to move forward with egg donation.

In an average month, only 5 percent of applicants are accepted. You can learn more about why some applicants do not go on to be egg donors in our post 5 Things That Disqualify an Egg Donor Candidate.

2. The number of egg donations increases every year.

As we said earlier, egg donor conception is becoming a more common family-building option. An estimated 100,000 children have been born via donor eggs since 1984, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, an increasing number of young women are donating their eggs, according to a report featured in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

3. There are 3 types of egg donor options. 

Egg donor matches can be known, semi-known, or anonymous. Each option offers intended parents a different level of contact with their egg donor. Surrogate Solution promotes known egg donation, as we believe knowing where he/she came from is important for a child’s healthy sense of identity. Also, known egg donation allows you and your children to remain the most up-to-date about their genetic parent’s medical history as it changes over time.

4. You need a primary support person during your egg donation.

Surrogate Solution requires the consent and support of a primary support person for every one of our egg donors. We also feel it’s important for intended parents to have the same level of support. Couples preparing for IVF often face a myriad of emotions. While they are excited about taking steps toward parenthood, anxiety and frustration are common. It’s a good idea to talk to an IVF or family counselor or licensed social worker. Their unbiased viewpoint and expertise can help you sort out your varying emotions. Be sure to seek out someone who is trained in treating infertile couples or individuals.

5. Success rates vary based on several factors.

These include the intended mother/gestational surrogate’s age, the reason for infertility, the competency of the IVF clinic, previous treatment outcomes, and the clinic’s expertise in your particular needs. You can look up your IVF clinic’s success rates online or call and ask for their numbers. Just be sure to inquire about live birth rates and not just pregnancy rates.

Experiencing infertility can leave you feeling lost and without options. But once you realize that you do have options, you’ll be able to continue on your path to parenthood. We hope the points in this article paint a clearer picture of what egg donation entails and whether it’s a fit for you.